Musical Theatre Alumni bios

Adam Shapiro has been a resident of NYC since 2004. Currently, he is rehearsing the role of Garcia in the International tour of The Gypsy Kings’ ZORRO-The Musical. (With fellow BSU alum Adam Chandler) Adam recently spent a year sailing the seas as a featured singer and comedian aboard the MS Rotterdam with Holland America Cruise Line. In New York, he played the title role of Gimpl in the Off-Broadway show Gimpl Tam with the National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene. He also appeared in the ensemble of Broadway Backwards 4 in 2009, sharing the stage with such stars as Whoopi Goldberg and Florence Henderson. Tours include Henry and Mudge (Mudge) with Theatreworks USA, and Pinocchio (Geppetto) with American Family Theatre. Regional credits include Ragtime (Tateh), Little Shop of Horrors,Joseph..., Footloose, and Annie Get Your Gun (starring Tom Wopat). Adam has also produced and performed two successful solo cabaret shows in New York (With fellow BSU alum A. Michael Tilford), appeared on NBC’s 30 Rock, and his voice can be heard on several albums with Stage Stars Karaoke. www.adamshapiro.net

Since graduating from Ball State in 2005, Andy Planck has been living in New York City. He traveled the country in the Broadway National Tour of Man of LaMancha as the Captain of the Inquisition and a Muleteer. Andy also recently finished the National Tour of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere for Theatreworks/USA. Aside from his touring credits, Andy also has experience working Regional Theatre and Summer Stock. Regional credits include Richard Henry Lee in 1776, Orin Scrivello (the Dentist) in Little Shop of Horrors, Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, the Minstrel in Once Upon A Mattress, and Teddy Slaughter in The Full Monty. Favorite Ball State credits include Dr. Parker in Bat Boy: The Musical, Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, Martinet in A Flea In Her Ear (Irene Ryan Nomination), Senator Wingwoah in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, and Percival Browne in The Boyfriend. Andy was also a Finalist in the Region III KC/ACTF Irene Ryan Acting Competition, and was the recipient of the Judges' Choice "Outstanding Musical Theatre Performance" Scholarship. Andy is now a proud new member of Actors' Equity Association! For more information, check out: www.andyplanck.com

Brent M. Watkins is originally from the very small town of Winchester, Indiana. He majored in musical theatre and music education at Ball State University. While at Ball State, he spent his summers performing at America's Rockin' Roller Coast, Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio). He then went onto spend a year performing at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As fortune would have it, the next two years were spent onboard the MV R-4 in Tahiti with Renaissance Cruises and then the MV Marco Polo (NCL) travelling the world. He has spent the past few years living in NYC and travelling to both the Netherlands and Tokyo with Big League Theatrical's amazing production of The Who's Tommy.

Jeffrey Lawhorn (director/actor/etc.) recently directed The Glass Menagerie at Festival 56 in Illinois to excellent reviews. In March 2006, he produced and directed The Palooka, a new play by Brandon Ramos, at the Access Theatre in New York, which garnered six Innovative Theatre Award nominations, including Outstanding Director and Outstanding Production of a Play. Other NYC directing credits include: A Touching Story (Emerging Artists Theatre), Three Women (EAT), L-O-V-E (EAT, Samuel French Festival), The Last Five Years, and numerous readings. Recent acting credits include: Crazy For You,West Side Story (Action), Much Ado About Nothing (Borachio) and Barefoot In The Park (Paul). He is a member of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab, Emerging Artists Theatre Company, and is working on a new play with Moises Kaufman at Tectonic Theatre Project. Jeffrey works as an associate talent agent at the Beverly Anderson Agency in New York.

Kathryn Gilbert resides in North Hollywood, CA. After interning at Dino De Laurentiis Company on the NBC-Universal Studios lot, she began working as an assistant film sales agent to John Matthew in Beverly Hills. She has worked with John on the worldwide sales and delivery of such pictures as SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, as well as several award-winning Italian films by Producer Aurelio De Laurentiis. Last spring, she choreographed and appeared on stage as Ariel in The Met Theatre's production of THE TEMPEST in Hollywood, CA. This fall she will work with The Victory Theatre Center to produce six 10-minute plays written by students in the Burbank school system. In her spare time, Kathryn coaches one of the Women's Windy City Softball teams, The Roxy Harts.

Kirsten Day is currently in the world premiere/first national tour of Go Diego Go, Live! She plays Alicia, Diego's older sister, and is thrilled to be working for one of her all time favorite networks, Nickelodeon. She graduated from Ball State University in 2004 with a double major in acting and musical theater, and moved to New York City right after to pursue her professional acting career. Her first national tour was the musical Junie B. Jones, with the company TheatreWorksUSA. She has also played Erma in the Heights Players production of Anything Goes. Kirsten is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and thanks her family, friends, God, and guardian angels for all of her success. CARPE DIEM!

Mike Brouwer, an Anthony and Arena Award-winner from Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a 2006 cum laude graduate of Ball State University's musical theatre program. While at Ball State, he appeared in Side Show, The Boy Friend, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Assassins, Bat Boy: The Musical, Anything Goes, Cabaret, and Disappeared, for which he received an Irene Ryan Acting Award Nomination. Mike also participated in the 2006 New York Showcase. Professional credits include Pump Boys and Dinettes and Smokey Joe's Café, both at the Ball State Downtown Dinner Theatre. Mike has called the Big Apple home since January 2007. New York credits include the first national tour of TheatreworksUSA's production of Max & Ruby, written by Carol Hall (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), and PROJECT's Peter and the Wolf. Television work includes Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Fringe. Proud member of AEA!

After graduating from Ball State in 2001, Natalie Ellis moved to New York City where she toured and performed Off-Broadway with Freestyle Repertory Theatre. She also led master classes for Students Live, conducting pre-show workshops for Peter Pan, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray and Spamalot. In addition, she worked for Wingspan Arts and the New Amsterdam Theatre. This past August, Natalie completed her master of arts in educational theatre at New York University. She recently relocated to Chicago from NYC and continues to work as an actor and teaching artist. Currently, you can catch her in The Awesome 80s Prom. www.natalielynnellis.com

Ryan Stutz completed his senior year at Ball State in the spring of '07. His favorite roles while at Ball State include Gordon (A New Brain), Jimmy (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Jidder (The Musical of Musicals the Musical), and Victor (Cabaret). This past summer, Ryan worked at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, MI, playing Pinocchio in the professional premiere of Disney's Geppeto and Son and receiving his equity card for playing Carl in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Most recently, Ryan is set to play Abraham in AltarBoyz at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis. He is a proud AEA member!

Tiiu Eva Rebane is originally from Las Vegas and has called New York home since graduating from Ball State University in 2001. She recently crimped her hair for Baby at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, directed by DJ Salisbury. She also played 12 characters in the New York premier of the 4 person musical comedy, Are We There Yet? Other favorites include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Jenny Wiley Theatre), Isabel in Pirates of Penzance (Brooklyn Family Theatre), singing with Oceania Cruises and touring with National Theatre's The Giver. TV includes: CSI: Miami and a pilot with Paul Reiser. She is currently welcoming the 60s in the National Tour of Hairspray, playing multiple characters as the Female Authority Figure.